Phrase guide

so be it

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

phrase

Meaning 1

An indication of acceptance, especially of a situation which is not entirely favorable.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, subjunctive

Examples

  • Minister of State: Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Prime Minister, I beg to introduce a bill entitled an Act to amend the Interpretation Act. Clerk: Interpretation (Amendment) Bill. Speaker: Second reading what day? Minister of State: At the next available sitting. Speaker: So be it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: be it so, it is what it is, that's life, c'est la vie, it is as it is, it is how it is, life's a bitch, shit happens, so be it, so is life, so it goes, such is life, that's that and this is this, that's the way it goes, that’s the way it plays, that's the way life is, that's the way the ball bounces, that's the way the cookie crumbles, that's the way the mop flops, them's the breaks

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Attested since late Old English.

Across languages

Translations

47 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 就這樣吧 /就这样吧 (jiù zhèyàng ba) — indication of acceptance
  • Chinese Mandarin: 欽此 /钦此 (qīncǐ) — indication of acceptance
  • Dutch: het zij zo — indication of acceptance
  • Esperanto: estu ĝi — indication of acceptance
  • Estonian: olgu nii — indication of acceptance
  • Finnish: olkoon menneeksi — indication of acceptance
  • Finnish: olkoon niin — indication of acceptance
  • French: soit — indication of acceptance
  • French: ainsi soit-il — indication of acceptance
  • French: qu'il en soit ainsi — indication of acceptance
  • German: so sei es — indication of acceptance
  • German: sei's drum — indication of acceptance
  • Greek: ας είναι (as eínai) — indication of acceptance
  • Hebrew: אמן (amén) — indication of acceptance
  • Hebrew: ניחא (nicha) — indication of acceptance
  • Hebrew: מילא (méyle) — indication of acceptance
  • Hindi: तथास्तु (tathāstu) — indication of acceptance
  • Hungarian: ám legyen — indication of acceptance
  • Italian: transeat — indication of acceptance
  • Italian: sia pure — indication of acceptance
  • Italian: così sia — indication of acceptance
  • Latin: transeat — indication of acceptance
  • Navajo: tʼáá ákótʼée doo — indication of acceptance
  • Norwegian Bokmål: la gå — indication of acceptance
  • Norwegian Bokmål: da så — indication of acceptance
  • Norwegian Bokmål: det får så være — indication of acceptance
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: la gå — indication of acceptance
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: då så — indication of acceptance
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: det får så vera — indication of acceptance
  • Ojibwe: maanoo — indication of acceptance
  • Ojibwe: maanoon — indication of acceptance
  • Polish: niech będzie — indication of acceptance
  • Portuguese: que seja — indication of acceptance
  • Portuguese: assim seja — indication of acceptance
  • Russian: так и бы́ть (tak i býtʹ) — indication of acceptance
  • Russian: быть по сему́ (bytʹ po semú) — indication of acceptance
  • Sanskrit: तथास्तु (tathāstu) — indication of acceptance
  • Serbo-Croatian: neka tako bude — indication of acceptance
  • Serbo-Croatian: u redu — indication of acceptance
  • Serbo-Croatian: neka — indication of acceptance
  • Spanish: así sea — indication of acceptance
  • Sranan Tongo: a tan so — indication of acceptance
  • Swedish: då så — indication of acceptance
  • Tamil: ஆகட்டும் (ākaṭṭum) — indication of acceptance
  • Thai: ทําไปเลยถ้าอยากทํา (tham pai loei tha yak tham) — indication of acceptance
  • Turkish: öyle olsun — indication of acceptance
  • Ukrainian: хай так (xaj tak) — indication of acceptance